DIY Micro Camper Is Filled With Creative Features Integrated Into a Clean and Cozy Design

Even though you're dealing with less real estate than a van or a school bus, building a micro camper is still challenging. It's critical to develop a clever layout and maximize every inch you have.

Most micro camper vans, including the ones I've recently covered, follow a similar layout: a small couch that can be transformed into a bed sits on one side, and a countertop is on the other. However, I like checking out multiple rigs because each builder comes up with various ways of making these tiny homes on wheels more livable and practical.

Josh is the creator of this micro camper based on a 2019 Ford Transit Connect that was designed as a cargo van. From the outside, this vehicle looks like your run-of-the-mill van, except for the 200 W solar panel on the roof.

The vehicle comes with two sliding doors. On the left side of the car, Josh installed a tiny window that can be slid open. On the opposite side, he removed the panel that was initially there and added a factory glass. The door it was mounted on serves as the entrance into the van.

Pop it open, and you'll reveal the cozy and cleanly designed interior. You'll notice pale green walls, a wooden ceiling and countertop, and other white or lightly colored elements, all blending beautifully.

Josh installed a curtain to separate the driver's cabin from the living space. Moreover, he devised a massive storage cabinet above the driver's cabin while leaving room for both door's sliding rails. A nice touch is that the cabinet's door has a leather handle, just like the rest of the cabinets inside this micro camper.

Next, we have an L-shaped couch – the part near the driver's cabin hides another large storage spot, which can be revealed by removing the cushion and lifting the top. One of my favorite features in this van integrated into the floor is a 24-inch (61-centimeter) long drawer that extends outside the vehicle, meaning it can only be used when the door is open. You'll find two of these in this rig, one on each side.

Before I tell you more about this camper's bedroom and kitchen, I wanted to touch upon its utilities. If you open the door on the left side of the vehicle, you'll find the electrical system neatly integrated into a cabinet. It features a charge controller, a DC/DC charger, a fuse box, and a 2,000 W inverter. Two 100 Ah batteries power all the electrical stuff in this van, stored under a part of the couch. If that's not enough for you, there's enough space to install extra batteries.

Let's continue with the tour. Pop open the rear doors, and you'll notice Josh replaced the factory panels with plywood and painted them green to match the camper's walls. He also added a tiny cubby.

As I mentioned earlier, the middle to rear part of the interior houses the couch and the kitchen on the left and right sides, respectively. The kitchen features a decently sized countertop, a sink with a golden faucet and a wooden cover, a two-burner induction stove, and some storage spaces in the form of cabinets and drawers, as well as an overhead cabinet. You'll find two outlets on the kitchen wall, two USB plugs, an accessory plug, and a touch button for the lights.

I love that Josh came up with a way of integrating a desk. In the long cabinet underneath the induction, he stores a wooden tabletop. After opening the first drawer, he can attach this tabletop to it and use it as a desk or for extra counter space.

Due to the limited space, the water system inside this camper is quite simple. It's housed in a cabinet underneath the sink and consists of a 5-gallon (19-liter) freshwater tank, a discharge hose for the grey water, and other plumbing components. Josh made a simple yet effective modification – he can add a magnetic clip to the sink's extendable faucet, attach it to the van's roof, and use it as an outdoor shower. It'll have to be quick, though, as those five gallons won't last long.

To transform the couch into a bed, you'll have to extend a 500-lb. (227-kg) slide and rearrange the cushions – you get about 32 inches (81 centimeters) side to side and around 76 inches (193 centimeters) in length. What's more, underneath the couch, Josh added three spacious drawers for storage. You also have a cubby integrated into the couch wall.

For ventilation, Josh installed a Maxxair fan on the ceiling. During colder days, you can use two portable electric space heaters.

That's about it for this micro camper. Despite its compact size, Josh's layout allowed him to fit many valuable utilities, all encased in a striking interior. You can discover more information about Josh's micro camper builds on his website.